L2P Rowing Race 2008 News
When you build a reputation for taking on unique challenges and making them happen I am always being approached by people with strange ideas. It was at the start of the Atlantic Rowing race in the Canaries in December 2005 it was put to me that might it not be a good idea to organise a race based on a record breaking project we undertook some 9 years ago :- the London2Paris Rowing Record...
Hotel Atria Charenton, Paris - 9/05/08
Never, never underestimate what you have achieved!
As I have emphasised from the beginning this is an "extreme" event
It is also a pioneering event with all the "unknowns" that this entails
Yet you have all overcome these odds to get you to Paris. Please bear in mind that only 40 odd people have achieved this up to now.
In 1999 we set a non stop world record of 106 hrs, 14mins and 54secs with a crew of hardened oarsmen containing Olympic and world champions and several people who had already rowed an ocean.
Yet you have rowed to Paris in accumulated times less than that.
By all getting successfully to Paris it has been shown that such a Race can be done and there are has been many lessons learnt on the way.
Much that was put in place was successful but there are things that need to be put right!
If we had not taken the gamble however and run this first race we would never have found these problems out.
Without you, the pioneers, this would never have been possible and in years to come when this race becomes one of the "classics" you will be able to look people in the eye and say. "I was there, I did the first Race."
A great reception and prize giving was held on Friday 9th May - more news to follow...
Langstone Cutters Team photo with Michael Polledri, Jock and CNA Trophy
Langstone Cutters finally won one of the most gruelling rowing races ever held when they rowed into Paris at the end of the first London2Paris rowing race. Rowed in Thames Waterman’s cutters and supported by Pedro Boats UK/Seacraft and Lea Valley Estates with help from CNA and Garmin, the race took 7 days to run its course from London via Ramsgate, Le Havre to Paris and involved 10 race stages. It is an "extreme endurance" event rowed night and day, and the competitors had to face up to the effects of severe physical exhaustion combined with lack of sleep and it is a credit to the teams and the support boat crews, lead so ably by Mike Oram and his son Lance that all competitors lasted the course, and that there were no lasting injuries although blisters in all sorts of places were a common problem!
Langstone Cutters are based around an existing club and had the infrastructure and organisation which enabled them to investigate every aspect of the Race which they did in a very professional manner. Excellent in rowing and efficient in organisation, they were superb winners.
Le FigaROW are a team of individuals drawn from around the UK and they overcame the organisational hurdle involved. They were competitive throughout and by sheer grit and determination won 2 legs and this speaks volumes for their determination and their ability to overcome difficulties.
For most competitors it was their "extreme challenge" and the crews found out an enormous amount about themselves as individuals and how to work in very arduous conditions. Once again it has been proven that if you have the will and determination it is possible to overcome all odds and they have pioneered what is likely to become one of the classic rowing races.
Plans are already afoot to another Race within the next two years possibly "back to back" with the first Paris2London Race.
RESULTS
CNA TROPHY (For the lowest accumulated time from London to Paris)
- Langstone Cutters: 95hrs 16mins 51secs
- Le FigaROW: 104 hrs 15mins 58secs
PEDRO BOATS UK/SEACRAFT TROPHY (Points trophy – Combined results Tidal sections and Pursuit Races)
- Langstone Cutters: 28 points
- Le FigaROW: 14 points
Updated
(Day 5/6)Pursuit Race rapidly followed Pursuit Race as the London2Paris Rowing Race entered its final stages.
The Pursuit Races certainly kept the adrenaline flowing although Langstone were back to their winning ways in the next 3 stages of the London2Paris Rowing Race.
Winning
Notre Dame to Mericourt (22.2 nms)
Mericourt to Andresy (25.4 nms)
Andresy to Chateux (15 nms)
The Chateux to Suresnes stage (15nms) produced a classic however with Langstone only getting in front in the last 150 metres after 3 hours of racing.
Figarow saved their best for last though and won the final Suresenes to Eiffel Tower (15nms) stage by only 200 metres from a fast closing Langstone to applause from a gathered crowd of sponsors and well wishers.
(Day 5)
A "brutal" team talk, a bit of "heart to heart", and another aggressive row by former Newcastle University oarsman Joe Leiserach backed up by team captain, policeman Nick Tittle inspired Le FigaROW to their first win in the "pursuit" stage from Amfreville to Notre Dame in the London2Paris Rowing Race.
Determination was "writ large" in every stroke as they initially powered away from Langstone and then with some clever crew changes held off a fast closing Langstone to win by 3 minutes.
Satisfaction was written all over the team’s faces as they finally got this win in the first of the "pursuit stages" As Nick Tittle was lifted out of the boat all he could say was “superb” which perfectly sums up their row.
France has not been spared the recent heavy rain and on the upper reaches of the Seine crews have been spending their time rowing into a fast stream which is sole destroying over these distances. Nevertheless the Race still expects to be in Paris on Thursday.
RESULTS
Leg 5: Amfreville to Notre Dame (Pursuit Stage)
1st Le Figarow
2nd Langstone Cutters
Winning margin 3 mins 51 secs
Accummulated time after 5 legs:
Langstone Cutters: 72hrs 21mins 27secs
Le Figarow: 77hrs 9 mins 59secs
(Day 4/5 in London2Paris Rowing Race)
2 gruelling legs in the London2Paris Rowing Race totalling over 100 miles were completed early this morning (6th May) in Amfreville.
The teams at first benefited from a 6 knot current just after leaving Le Havre at 4.00 am on their way up the Seine.The boats occasionally touching over 10 knots - not bad for a 6 oared non sliding seat boat! Once again Le FigaROW took an early lead, at one stage being nearly a mile in front, only for Langstone to "peg it" back, eventually, and lead into Rouen finishing opposite the famous Cathedral, 70 miles later.
See more images in Gallery
The scenery was amazing in this part of the Seine. The only gripe from the crews was that they were working too hard to enjoy it!
Both crews though extremely tired elected to go on and at 21.15 set off on the 30 plus miles from Rouen to Amfreville into a two and a half knot current. Organisers were not the most popular of people!. At times as well, the teams had to deal with very large barges thundering down the Seine causing some extremely large waves. Lots of "squeals" were heard but the boats themselves coped without any problems. Finally the 2 crews made it to the lock at Amfreville an awaiting shower at a friendly camp site and bed after what was for many one of the most gruelling days of their lives.
LEG 3 LE HAVRE TO ROUEN
- 1st Langstone Cutters: 14 hrs 9mins 45secs
- Le Figarow: 15hrs 37mins 30 secs
LEG 4 ROUEN TO AMFREVILLE
- Langstone Cutters: 6hrs 58mins 4 secs (Total: 67hrs 29mins 29secs)
- Le Figarow = 7hrs 58mins 42 secs (Total: 71 hrs 56mins 19secs)
Langstone Cutters increased their lead in the first London2Paris rowing race by just over an hour when finishing in Le Havre at 18.00 hrs last night.
It was a long hard day for the crew covering a 140 miles in just over 31 hours with some crew members having to row 6 hours at a stretch. It seemed, however, for all a truly inspiring experience with at one stage dolphins, attracted by the "strobe lights" mounted on the stern, playing around the boat. Nevertheless they were all glad to se the pontoon on arrival having pushed themselves beyond exhaustion. All a very tired Team Leader Mike Gilbert was able to say at the end was "Just proud of them and proud of what they have achieved".
For Le Figarow it was just another day when the learning curve was straight upwards but they know that by just losing by just one hour over 140 miles that they only need a little improvement to be back in the hunt. They also suffered some problems with the pump system which they need to keep working just to stay afloat!!
The committee are considering some form of time compensation for this incident.
LEG 2 RESULTS:- Ramsgate to Le Havre
- Langstone Cutters = 31hrs 37mins 10secs (Total time: 46hrs 21mins 40secs)
- Le Figarow = 32hrs 53mins 45secs (Total time: 48hrs 20mins 7secs)
An 11.00 start on the Saturday morning saw the competing crews racing away,in flat calm conditions, from Ramsgate, on the second leg of the Race, on their way to Le Havre, 140 miles away:-almost certainly the most gruelling leg of the Race.
Le Figarow were keen to get back into the race and taking a slightly "further offshore" course and aggressively stroked by Joe Leiserich pushed hard and lead through to Deal on the way going through a fleet of yachts competing in the annual Ramsgate to Boulogne Yacht Race:- much to their consternation.
By Deal Langstone had "hunted them down" and gone ahead.
By 14.00 the crews were off Dover and starting to cross the Channel which although a bit bumpy in the middle was of know great concern to the crews:- proving yet again how seaworthy the Thames Waterman’s cutter is and fit for purpose.
Langstione was by now drawing steadily away.
Come 19.00 both crews had crossed the Channel and were making their way up the French coast with Le Figarow now in flatter water cutting back the lead Langstone had. This continued through the night. Le Figarow with slicker, faster, changeovers now gaining time on Langstone who by rowing neater and more efficiently on the cross Channel leg were some 4 miles in front but definitely in sight and still able to be caught.
The support boats are calling in the rowers positions and you can watch their progress on this on our Google Maps powered race map.